Medovka on the Don: River Landscape and Places of Remembrance

Medovka lies on the left bank of the Don. The character of the place is shaped both by its riverside location and by its links to the history of the Second World War: a seasonal route passes through Medovka, and in 2026 a renovated monument to an unknown Soviet airman was unveiled here. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, these features help define the destination: the banks of the Don and its history of remembrance shape its character.

Medovka along a historical route

The route “U beregov donskikh v boyu” passes through Yamnoe, Mokhovatka, Medovka, Novozhivotinnoye, Komsomolsky, Knyazevo and Gorozhanka. It operates seasonally, from spring to autumn. The settlements along the route were on the front line from July 1942 to January 1943. Medovka is therefore part of a historical context spanning several settlements; the route places it alongside six other stops.

In Medovka, the route identifies individual graves of unknown Soviet airmen from General Korsikowski’s 20th Air Army. A renovated monument to an unknown Soviet airman was unveiled on 23 June 2026. These two details give the place a specific connection to the history of remembrance.

More places to discover in Voronezh Oblast

Those planning beyond a single destination will find other distinct nature and cultural attractions in Voronezh Oblast. The territory of the Khopyor Nature Reserve extends across the Novokhopyorsky, Povorinsky and Gribanovsky administrative districts. The routes described in the reserve also differ considerably: the five-kilometre “Legendy Khopra” walking excursion takes three hours and is closed during the spring flood. The “Tur de Khopyor” cycling tour covers 26 kilometres and takes four hours. The two options can therefore be compared by mode of travel, distance and time required.

The Natural History Museum in the Khopyor Nature Reserve devotes two halls to the reserve’s wildlife and habitats. Its exhibits include beavers, Russian desmans, and aquatic and predatory birds. Wild boar, elk, fallow deer and red deer are also featured, and a large relief map shows the reserve. Check the current visitor rules before your visit.

In the Divnogorye Museum-Reserve, the landscape is defined by chalklands, with unusual chalk formations on steep slopes and large, ridge-like chalk ravines. Divnogorsky Canyon is about one kilometre long and up to 200 metres wide. The area’s cultural heritage also includes six caves and cave complexes carved into the chalk massif on the right bank of the Tikhaya Sosna and Don rivers. Together, they extend for about 8.5 kilometres. Here, the landscape and places carved into chalk offer a different focus from Medovka’s riverside setting and places of remembrance.

Another cultural highlight is the Kostenki Museum-Reserve. Its archaeological museum completely covers a Stone Age settlement site. The nine-hectare site contains 25 protected zones with around 60 Upper Palaeolithic archaeological sites. Voronezh Oblast thus offers archaeological sites alongside the natural and historical attractions found at other destinations.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Petropavlovka, Panino, Kuchugury, Borisoglebsk, Solnechnyy, Polyana, Boguchar, Voronezh.

Return to the regional travel overview: Voronezh Oblast.